Experts use many models, theories, perspectives, and approaches in family therapy. Some are evidence based, while others are not. For you to get a good sense of those perspectives and approaches that are evidence based and that would be appropriate for some family situations but not others, it is vital to be aware of the research literature on family therapy.
You will have the opportunity to evaluate several scholarly, peer-reviewed articles throughout the course to gain a good overview of models and theories that are evidence based and would be valuable to use in your work as a family therapist (and group therapist, in the last half of the course). It is important that, when you are searching for evaluation research on family therapy, you use only scholarly, peer-reviewed studies.
Background Information
In this assignment, you will find a research or evaluation study on family therapy (where a practice model or therapeutic model was examined for effectiveness) and apply the results to the multi-stressed diverse family’s situation shown in the video used for the 3.2 and 3.3 assignments. Focus especially on how the study’s findings allow you to help the family develop mutually agreed-upon goals and objectives based on their individual assessments and the family MSE, along with using a more collaborative approach (assume you could interact with the family to develop these). Consider, too, how family and natural helping systems are important for the family in the video, especially for the daughter. What aspects of her natural helping system could be brought to bear on developing goals and objectives?
Use the library to find scholarly, peer-reviewed research and evaluation studies on family therapy for this assignment. The scholarly research study you use for this assignment should be different from those you used in Workshops One and Two.
Instructions
- Locate a research or evaluation study of a model, theory, perspective, or approach to working with families in family therapy.
- Once you have located an appropriate scholarly, peer-reviewed study, write a paper analyzing the study for its application to family therapy. Address the following questions and prompts in your paper:
a. What did you learn about the model, theory, or approach described in the article? Does the model, theory, or approach seem to resonate with your own personal and professional values? Describe and explain.
b. How was the model, theory, or approach evaluated? How large was the study population and did the population include diverse people? Did the study use control and experimental groups? Did the study use trained therapists (trained in the model or perspective being evaluated)? What were some important ethical considerations regarding the study and how were they addressed?
c. What advanced family therapy skills did you learn about?
d. Do you think you would use this model, theory, or approach in your own work with multi-stressed diverse families? Explore and explain.
e. Does the model, theory, or approach described in the article help advance human rights? If so, how? If not, would you use the model, theory, or approach anyway? Why or why not?
f. What conclusions do you draw after analyzing and evaluating this study (for your own practice with families and for social work practice in general)?
Sample Solution